- All Forums
-
General
-
Television
-
DVDs & Films
-
Hardware
-
PCs & Mobiles
-
Photography
-
Music
-
Gaming and Consoles
-
MAD
-
Sports
-
Trading
-
Retailer Reviews
-
Bargain Buckets
-
Region Hacks
General Forum - Another car help thread - Page 1
Elite
Or more of an opinion needed. My old Mondeo keeps draining its battery in between the weeks I use it. Going into the garage tommorow for an alternator/battery/starter check, but tonight I realised that the drivers side vanity mirror has a light and the cover has come off. I managed to break the spring one day and whilst trying to fix it I broke the little plastic lugs that kept the cover in place. I think the cover activated a switched that would turn the light off when it closed.
So the question is, could that be enough to drain the battery over a period of about 2 weeks if the light was always on. I wouldn't normally notice it on if the visor is pushed up, like I normally have it.
The battery is less that 18 months old, but came with a 3 year warranty so if that is the issue it should get replaced foc. And i can't test if the light is always on as the battery has been dead for about a month now, since I last tried to use the car, and is currently trickle charging so I can get to the garage.
Elite
I would think it could drain the battery over a 3 week period. If the battery is in bad condition it could be a lot quicker, but you say yours is not too old.
Super Admin
If you aren't using your car every day, possibly!
Editor
DVD REVIEWER
MYREVIEWER.COM
"The Green Belt policy is a Labour Policy, and we intend to Build on it"
John Prescott
Elite
Thanks. I dont know if it stays on once the ignition is off at the moment. I will let them test the battery and alternator and take the bulb out the vanity mirror and see what happens.
Elite Donator
It's feasible. We left our old 306 in the garage for 4 weeks when we went to Oz for our honeymoon. I made absolutely sure nothing whatsoever was left of, but when we came back the battery was flat. Anything that might make a short would drain it quicker
============================
Writer's Release
My Collection
Elite Donator
Possible, feasable and even likely.
However on my wee Rover that's currently on a SORN i only start it every so often to check it's ok and keep it turning over.
I left it about a month and the battery fully drained on it so if your battery wasn't fully charged in the first place (short start/stop runs etc) then it might have been a bit low and it could just be natural battery drain.
Bit of luck it's either that or the mirror light and won't cost to fix 
You could also tape shut the wee switch that activates the vanity light if the bulb is difficult to get out.
Jimbo : oÞ
"Making Teenagers depressed is like shooting fish inna barrel"
Elite
I don't drive the car much, the odd day every few weeks. Most of the time I walk or get a lift to work , but when I am on a 9pm finish I like to drive home. Used to be ok to leave for a few weeks, had the battery replaced winter 2008 when it died in the cold weather. But hoping to buy a house soon and at current prices that means moving 5 or 6 miles up the road and walking wont be an option, so hopefully it is easily fixable. I just know how these sorts of problems on cars can be a pain to find if it is a short.
Elite
A occurance that happened to my mates down at Donyatt garage in dere ole Zummerzet, was a car that continually had a battery that was running down, they stuck a ammeter on the battery when it was off & found at times it was drawing a current of 3amps, then by removing fuses they tracked it down to the lighting circuits with the lights off & only by climbing into the boot found it to be the boot courtesy light switch turning intermittently ON when the boot was closed. 
I consider myself an optimist, albeit an optimist with cynical tendencies and a dark side that Lucifer himself would find a little creepy. (Perhaps you’ve noticed.) You don’t normally associate cynicism with an upbeat pov. But I have exactly that combination and will defend it.
Violent & emotionally unstable duck with rocket propelled grenade launcher, seeks desk job preferably around other people.
Administrator at ADTelly - Accessing UK & US TV from overseas.
Non referal link.
Elite Donator
Quote:
I don't drive the car much, the odd day every few weeks.Which may be the bigger problem here 
If you're going to use the car regularly then you may find that such a small light drawing current is just an annoyance and not a major problem.
It's probably draining due to the long periods between use.
Still worth getting it stopped by removing bulb/taping switch or similar though just don't pay any daft high garage prices as we can probably talk you through most checks on here to find the problem
Jimbo : oÞ
"Making Teenagers depressed is like shooting fish inna barrel"
Elite
If you only use your car that infrequently make sure you turn it on and let it run at least every couple of weeks. Even better if you can go for a short drive say 20-30mins once a week it helps.
Cars are meant to be used, not using them and urban only use actually makes them less reliable and prone to more faults.
